26 Jul: Planting with Love
So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. John 13:34
Scripture Reading: John 13:31–35
I owe you a confession: I wasn’t entirely honest about those tulips.
My youngest daughter brought the packaged bulbs all the way back from Amsterdam to the US after a trip abroad. When she handed them over, I put on a whole show of pure excitement—partly out of joy just to have her back in front of me. The truth? Tulips are actually my least favorite flower. They tend to pop up early and disappear almost as fast. On top of that, the scorching July heat made planting them out of the question right then.
By late September, though, I finally got around to putting “my daughter’s” bulbs in the ground. Because I was thinking of her the entire time, I planted them with genuine care. With every scoop of rocky dirt I moved, I found myself caring more and more about their survival. After smoothing over the soil, I said a quiet blessing over the bed—“sleep well”—hoping they’d somehow make it to spring.
That afternoon in the garden stuck with me as a simple lesson in how God asks us to love people, even when they aren’t naturally our “favorites.” When we stop focusing on each other’s flaws, God gives us the grace to show real love, even during difficult seasons. Given enough time, that kind of love takes root despite our own stubbornness.
As Jesus put it, “Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples” (John 13:35).
When we let Him trim away our harsh edges, we get to see something beautiful grow. Sure enough, the tulips bloomed early the following spring—right on the exact weekend my daughter came back to visit.
“Look what’s blooming!” I told her.
And this time, I meant me.
By: Abigail Peterson
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Reflect & Pray
Whom is God asking you to love, even if that person isn’t your “favorite”? What can you do to show that person more of the love of Christ?
Dear Jesus, prune my heart so I can learn to love others in Christ.